TURN YOUR MESSY STORY IDEA
INTO AN OUTLINE
PHASE #1: THE PREMISE
what's the basic idea?
PHASE #2: MEET YOUR PROTAGONIST
WHAT IS THEIR DESIRE?
(the thing they want + think will make them happy)
WHAT IS THEIR FEAR?
(the thing stopping them from going after the thing that will make
them happy)
WHAT IS THEIR MISBELIEF?
(the thing they mistakenly believe is true about the world, which
feeds off their fear)
PHASE #3: THE 3-ACT STRUCTURE
bullet point outline your story beats
ACT 1:
THE HOOK:
grab readers with the inner conflict of Protagonist
SETUP
something is about to happen to Protagonist, reader can feel it
INCITING INCIDENT
something throws Protagonist outside their comfort zone
BUILD-UP
Protagonist is going to have to face this thing head on
1ST PLOT POINT
Protagonist makes a decision that determines what happens next
1ST PINCH POINT
the opposition/antagonistic force looms in the distance
ACT 2:
PRE-MIDPOINT REACTIONARY HERO:
Protagonist is in pursuit of their goal, but something is going to
stand in their way
MIDPOINT:
plot twist! everything changes
POST-MIDPOINT ACTION HERO:
thanks to the game-changing midpoint, Protagonist has to switch
gears when it comes to their goal
2ND PINCH POINT:
Antagonist gets closer to disrupting Protagonist’s life
ACT 3:
SUPPOSED VICTORY:
Protagonist feels confident they will be victorious…little do they
know, disaster is on the way
DISASTER:
something (or everything) goes wrong. reader saw it coming,
Protagonist did not.
DARK MOMENT:
Protagonist feels lost and hopeless in wake of the disaster (their
fear challenges them again)
RECOVERY:
Protagonist must overcome their false beliefs to continue to the
climax, thus developing as a character
ACT 3:
CLIMACTIC CONFRONTATION:
Protagonist faces their biggest challenge of all
VICTORY:
Protagonist overcomes!
RESOLUTION/END:
loose ends are wrapped up, reader is satisfied.
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